Hi there! Welcome to the Hearth and Soul Link Party! Have you ever tried to design your summer? Having an idea of some of the things we’d like to do during the summer can mean we are more likely to fit them in before the summer slips away from us. This year I’m thinking about ways to add structure to a summer that will involve travel only within the UK. I really hope that next summer will see us back on the international circuit but I’m excited to explore more of the beautiful place I call home this year.
The Hearth and Soul Link Party welcomes family friendly blog posts about anything to feed the soul. Things that feed the soul may include (but are not limited to) recipes, decorating, crafts, family, home, DIY, organization, travel, book reviews, the arts and self improvement.
What Has Been Happening!
Things are slowly opening up a bit here and we are all cautiously optimistic. It was a real pleasure to visit our son and his partner last week. I went into my favourite bookstore for the first time in a very long time and we had a lovely dinner inside a restaurant. Later in the week, my husband and I were excited to return to our favourite local Italian restaurant. These were all things I took so for granted before. It’s humbling how special they feel now.
Our weather has been really grey and rainy but I’m still enjoying summer salads. Sometimes I’ll serve a cold salad with a warm ingredient, like in my Steak and Asparagus Salad or my Salade Frisée aux Lardons. Or I’ll pop a warm chicken breast on top of some crisp salad leaves, sliced radishes and tomatoes. I’m planning to make my Mom’s Coleslaw next week.
This is the coleslaw recipe I make most often and it’s the perfect side for just about anything!
I’m excited to announce my online Vintage Summer Afternoon Tea Workshop!
Vintage Summer Afternoon Tea Workshop
Following on from the success of the recent Traditional British Afternoon Tea Class I held with my friend Jen, I’m excited to announce my first solo venture, an online Vintage Summer Afternoon Tea Workshop on Saturday June 12th at 6pm UK time (that is 1.00pm Eastern, 10.00am Pacific).
Learn about the British tradition of afternoon tea and get lots of recipes and inspiration to help you create different Vintage Summer Afternoon Teas to enjoy. There’s a cook-a-long too. If enjoying tea and treats in the sunshine fits into your design your summer plans, this will be perfect for you! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them in the comments or email me.
To find out more and for booking information, please click here. I hope to see you there!
Thank you all for sharing your wonderful content!
Design Your Summer Featured Posts
This week’s design your summer featured posts include (from top left, clockwise):-
There’s lovely spring to summer tablescape inspiration from Sandra at Dinner at Eight in Blue Skies Inspiration For Spring Into Summer.
Whatever the restrictions (or lack of them) in your corner of the world, it can still be fun to design your summer. Don’t miss The Ultimate Socially Distanced Spring Bucket List for Kids from Jen at Satsuma Designs.
There’s nothing like a lovely slice of quick bread with a cup of tea on a summer afternoon, and you know how I love vintage recipes! Chris and Melissa from Little Frugal Homestead shared a recipe for Granny’s Strawberry Bread that is more than just delicious, it’s got some wholesome ingredients too!
I can’t say I live a simple life, but I always feel inspired by those who do. Jenna from Life of An Earth Muffin shares the Amazing Things I’ve Learned 3 Years Into Zero Waste. As part of my design your summer plans, I am hoping to reduce the waste we generate and Jenna shares lots of insights in this post that will help.
On with the link up!
The Hearth and Soul Link Party
- Please do not link to anything except blog posts. Please share the permalink to your blog post, and not to the home page of your blog.
- Linking your blog posts here means you consent to me sharing as many of them as I can on Pinterest, Twitter, and both my own Facebook page and The Hearth and Soul Facebook Page and featuring them on my blog with photographs from the post.
- By submitting a post to the link party here, you assert that you own the content and photographs and therefore can give me the above permission.
- It’s easier for me to publicise your posts if you have social media share buttons on your blog.
- There are buttons at the top and bottom of this post to help you bring Hearth and Soul to the attention of your friends and followers. I really appreciate it when you do!
I look forward to seeing what you share this week! Take care and have fun as you design your summer. Have a wonderful week!
Comments & Reviews
Your idea of a warm topping on a salad sounds like a great way to extend “salad season.” I might have to give it a try once the weather cools down a bit here. Thanks for hosting us again! I brought by some Peanut Lime Cucumber Salad – it’s a fun twist on an old favorite. 🙂 Hope you enjoy!
Thank you, CJ! Your Peanut Lime Cucumber Salad sounds absolutely delicious. I look forward to the recipe. Have a lovely week!
Hi April,
It is so exciting to be able to go to some of our favorite places without a face covering. I didn’t realize how much we had missed it. Everything looks so good at the party today and many thanks for hosting us! Have a fantastic week!
Miz Helen
Hi Miz Helen, That is lovely news! We are still have to mask here but things are slowly opening up which is exciting. I hope you have a fantastic week as well.
That’s so neat that you’re able to get back to some restaurants and shops!
Thank you, Barbara! Have a wonderful week!
Here in Montana, we do live quite simply, but I am always game to learn more! I am headed over to Amazing Things I learned Three Years into Zero Waste. Thanks for hosting April, have a great week ahead.
Thank you for visiting and sharing, Melynda! Have a lovely week!
It’s truly so wonderful to get back out a bit, isn’t it? It reminds me of an old saying that goes something like, the small things are really the big things. Anyway, I’m heading out to eat with family that is visiting out of state. The first time that we’re getting together in almost 2 years. Woohoo!
The heat is here in VA this week so I’ve linked up two recipes that are perfect to beat the heat. A vegetarian/vegan appetizer (or light meal) and a refreshing dessert. 🙂
Thanks for hosting, April. Have a wonderful week and keep on savoring those special moments!
Shirley
I hope you had a lovely time with your family, Shirley! How wonderful to be able to get back together again. You are so right, the little things really are the big things. Thank you for visiting and sharing. I hope your week is wonderful too!
So glad you got to see your son and his partner. It’s amazing what we used to take for granted, isn’t it? For me it was being able to go to the quilt shop with my mom. And visiting my step daughter. We usually see her a couple of times a year, but it had been over a year now. But we are hanging out with her as I type. 😄
We are starting to make summer plans too.
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
We had salad today with leftover barbecue chicken on top! Gotta get creative with leftovers in this empty nest!
What a delicious idea, Michele! Take care and have a lovely week.
April, thanks so much for including my tablescape among your features this week! What a delightful honor! I’m holding onto spring as long as I can.
It’s a pleasure, Sandra! I agree, time really is flying by. I’m hoping spring sticks around for a while yet too. I just like to plan ahead 😉
It is great to see y’all out and about! We have gotten out a little bit. And our little town is having the farmer’s market in the square again! Love it!
Thanks so much for featuring my Granny’s Strawberry Bread recipe – it is a favorite here on the homestead. It is strawberry season, so I am putting up sliced berries for later since we don’t bake much during the hot season here in the South.
Hope everyone is planning a wonderful summer!
Melissa | Little Frugal Homestead
Thank you, Melissa, and it’s a pleasure! How lovely that your farmer’s market is back too. Take care and have a wonderful week.
I’m so glad you have been out and about and were able to visit with your son and his partner, April! We also had our first restaurant visit after 14 months and it felt so wonderful!
Oh how lovely, Pat! I’m so glad you are able to get out and about a bit more too! Have a wonderful week.
It is wonderful to hear that you are getting out and eating in restaurants again, April! It has been a long journey for all of us! Thanks for hosting and wishing you a wonderful week!
Hugs,
Tee xo
Thank you, Tee! I hope you have a wonderful week as well. Hugs xo
Thank you so much for hosting, Have a wonderful week!
I hope you have a wonderful week too, Priyam!
So fun to be able to visit some favorites!
Thank you for visiting, Lauren!
Happy day, April! Thank you so much for featuring my summer bucket list for families. I hope everyone is gearing up for a nice season. Best, Jen
Happy day to you too, Jen! I hope you are having a lovely week.
I just made strawberry bread this weekend! It was fabulous.
Now you are making me hungry, Joanne! I hope your week is going well.
Hi April! I made it to the party a little late this week! I shared something that goes with your theme this week, a calendar of activities to go with specific days in June. I hope it helps parents keep their kids engaged this summer with learning and fun. Thanks for hosting and have a great week.
Hi Helen! No worries, there is no rush to get here first thing. Thank you for visiting and sharing. I hope you are having a wonderful week too!
Glad you are able to go out and about. We are opening up here also. I am careful but it is nice to resume some normal activities.
Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
Thank you, Patrick. I agree, it’s important to be careful but it is so nice to feel a bit more normal again. 🙂 I hope you are having a wonderful week as well.